The right conference room microphone depends on room size: in a small room, the mics built into a video bar or speakerphone are enough; in a medium room, add one or two table expansion mics; in large rooms and boardrooms, use several table mics or ceiling microphone arrays. For Teams and Zoom, any USB mic works in a laptop meeting, but in a dedicated Teams Rooms or Zoom Rooms system, use mics that are certified or made for that system.
Do you need a separate microphone?
For a Microsoft Teams or Zoom meeting, you need a microphone, but not necessarily a separate one. A laptop's built-in mic works for one person at a desk. In a meeting room, it doesn't: laptop mics pick up keyboard noise and can't hear people across the table. A video bar or speakerphone is the minimum for a room.
Microphone types
| Type | How it works | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in (video bar) | Beamforming mic array in the bar | Huddle and small rooms | Reach drops off at the far end of the table |
| Speakerphone | Omnidirectional mics and speaker in one puck | Small rooms, portable use | One device covers a limited radius |
| Table expansion mic | Wired puck that extends a bar or system | Medium and large rooms | Cables on the table |
| Boundary mic | Flat mic that uses the table surface | Clean tables, flat pickup | Picks up table taps and paper noise |
| Ceiling array | Beamforming array mounted in or on the ceiling | Boardrooms, clear-table designs | Ceiling height, acoustics, install cost |
| Wireless table mic | Battery mic that links over Wi-Fi or DECT | Rooms where cables can't run | Charging and battery management |
| Gooseneck / lavalier | Directional mic for a single talker | Presenters, councils, lecterns | Usually needs a DSP and pro install |
Learn more: boundary microphones, ceiling microphones and wireless conference mics.
Coverage by room size
| Room | Seats | Microphone plan |
|---|---|---|
| Focus / huddle | 2-4 | Video bar or speakerphone, such as Jabra Speak2 75 |
| Small | 4-6 | Video bar built-in mics |
| Medium | 6-12 | Bar plus 1-2 expansion mics |
| Large | 12-20 | 2-4 table mics or 1-2 ceiling arrays |
| Boardroom / training | 20+ | Ceiling arrays with DSP, or many daisy-chained table mics |
A good rule: every seat should be within the published pickup range of at least one mic. Check the spec for each device. See daisy-chaining conference mics.
Expansion mics by system
Expansion mics usually only work with their own brand's bar or system. Match the mic to what's in the room.
| Mic | Works with | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Logitech Rally Mic Pod | Rally Bar, Rally Bar Mini, Rally | $449.99 |
| Logitech Rally Mic Pod 2 | Rally Board 65, Rally Bar 2 | $819 |
| Poly Studio Table Microphone | Studio X52/X72/V52/V72/USB | $210 |
| Poly Studio A2 Table Microphone | Up to 8 per room, daisy-chain | $339 |
| Poly IP Table Microphone | G7500, Studio G62 | $498.99 |
| AVer 20m Expansion Microphone | VB342 Pro, VB350 | $325 |
| Yealink VCM36-W | Wi-Fi expansion mic for Yealink systems | $378 |
| Yealink CP50 | Daisy-chainable omni mic/speaker | $545.99 |
Ceiling microphones
Ceiling arrays keep the table clear and cover large areas with beamforming.
- Yealink CM20: 16-mic beamforming ceiling array, PoE, AES67.
- Poly IP Ceiling Microphone: 360° PoE ceiling array for the G7500.
- AVer FONE700: ceiling speakerphone with a DSP hub, daisy-chain up to four.
Ceiling mics work best with ceilings around standard office height and with acoustic treatment. In echoey rooms, they pick up more reflected sound than table mics. See conference room acoustics.
Portable conference microphones
For rooms without fixed AV, a USB/Bluetooth speakerphone is the portable option:
- Jabra Speak2 55: 4 mics, 12-hour battery.
- Jabra Speak2 75: 4 mics, 32-hour battery.
- Poly Sync 60: 6-mic speakerphone for small rooms.
- AVer FONE540: expandable USB speakerphone with daisy-chain.
More choices in best speakerphones.
Microphones for Teams and Zoom
- Laptop or BYOD meetings: any USB or Bluetooth mic or speakerphone works. Pick it in the app's audio settings.
- Teams Rooms: use Teams-certified audio peripherals or the system's own expansion mics. Uncertified devices may work on Windows but aren't supported. See Teams Rooms certified devices.
- Zoom Rooms: use Zoom-certified hardware or the system's own mics. See Zoom Rooms certified hardware.
Our best microphones for Teams and Zoom list has specific picks, and conference room microphone setup covers placement.
Not sure how many mics your room needs? Send us the room size and table shape and we'll map out coverage.
Related guides
- Boundary and table microphones for conference rooms
- How Much Do Conference Room Microphones Cost?
- How to Place Microphones in a Conference Room
- What Is a Table Microphone for Conference Rooms?
- What Is Automatic Gain Control (AGC) in Conference Audio?
- What Is RT60? Reverberation Time in Meeting Rooms
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